Troubleshooting Critical Process Died on Windows 10, Windows 8, and Windows 8.1

Troubleshooting Critical Process Died on Windows 10, Windows 8, and Windows 8.1

The error of critical process died can show up on your computer, accompanied by a message. Resolving this error code and the message may seem tough but here, we have made it smooth for you. Users of Windows 8, Windows 8.1, and Windows 10 can find help in this blog.

This blog has been divided into various sections. Depending upon the version of Windows, you can check the fixes that will work. In these sections, you can also learn what this error means and what prompts it to emerge on your Windows computer.

7 topics relating to the Windows blue screen critical process died error have been discussed here. Take a look at them below.

What is Stop Code Critical Process Died Error?

When you see “critical_process_died” on your system, it means that a critical system process has died while checking for a bug. When this process fails, you will come across troubles while running your system. Your system may crash and disrupt your work. 

Why is the “Windows Error Stop Code Critical Process Died” Error Emerging?

Read the following reasons to understand why the stop code critical_process_died error may be emerging on Windows 8, Windows 8.1, and Windows 10.

  • Corrupted files on your system form the top cause of this error.
  • Corrupted system image can also generate an error like this one.
  • This problem can emerge when your Windows computer lacks driver upgrades. 
  • If you have downloaded some software lately, the installation may not have been correctly done. 
  • The processes happening during startup could be the next cause of this issue. 

Resolving Windows 8 Blue Screen Critical Process Died Error

The blue screen critical process died error on Windows 8 can be resolved in the best way by entering Safe Mode. To enter this mode, you can find the steps in the following section.

Fix 1: Enter Safe Mode on Windows 8

Learn how to fix critical process died error on your Windows 8 computer by entering Safe Mode. Then you can do a clean installation or system refresh method.

The Safe Mode can be entered by restarting your Windows 8 computer and pressing a combination of keys. From the Advanced Repair Options, you can pick the one for accessing the Safe Mode. 

  • If your computer is on, then start it again. 
  • Press the following keys simultaneously.
  • “Shift” key + “F8” key 
F8 Key - critical process died

Note: This step has to be done before seeing the “Windows Logo”.

  • In the fourth step, tap “See Advanced Repair Options”.
  • Now, “Troubleshoot” has to be selected.
  • Go to “Advanced Options”.
  • Tap on “Windows Startup Settings”.
  • Press the “Restart” option.
  • From the list, click on “Safe Mode”/”Safe Mode with Networking”.

Note: If you require the internet, then make a selection on “Safe Mode with Networking”.

  • In the “Safe Mode”, press “Windows” and “X” keys. In the “Device Manager”, check your drivers and devices which require updates. Install the updates, if any. During the start, if any programs were installed, please remove them. 
  • Now, you can go for either “Clean Installation” or “System Refresh”. For Clean Installation, press “Windows” and “I” keys. Select “Change PC Settings”. Then choose “General”. Afterwards, you have to choose “Remove Everything and Reinstall Windows”.

Note: This process will remove your data.

  • For “System Refresh”, press “Windows” and “I” keys and then tap on “Change PC Settings”. Click on “General”. Then pick the option of “Refresh Your PC Without Affecting Your Files”.

Note: This process will not remove your data but reinstall the OS.

Resolving Critical Process Died Error on Windows 8.1

Learn a guaranteed critical process died Windows 8.1 solution in this blog. This solution will narrate the method to start DISM. Then you can perform the System File Checker command. For all the information associated with this solution, please read ahead.

Fix 1: Open DISM and Run SFC on Windows 8.1

In this critical process died Windows 8.1 fix, you will receive guidance for opening DISM via Command Prompt. Then you can run the System File Checker command. This command will fix the files that are being the cause of this error. 

  • Open “Command Prompt” as the administrator.
  • Write the following in the “Command Prompt”. 

“DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth” 

critical process died windows 8 fix command prompt
  • Tap ‘Enter”. 
  • Then write the following in the “Command Prompt” 

“sfc /scannow” 

  • Tap “Enter” again.

Your system will be scanned. Files in the cache will be replaced. 

Note: If you see “Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity violations” displayed on your screen, that means no problems were identified. 

If you see “Windows Resource Protection could not perform the requested operation”, then open Safe Mode to try SFC. In the “C:\WinSxS\Temp” location, you have to verify “PendingRenames” and “PendingDeletes” folders. 

If you see “Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files and successfully repaired them”, that means the problems were identified and repaired. 

If you see, “Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files but was unable to fix some of them”, that means the files were not replaced. You can manually replace them. 

Resolving Critical Process Died Windows 10 Error

Critical process died blue screen Windows 10 issue can appear out of nowhere. To troubleshoot it, we have collected all the fixes you will need. These fixes have been provided as follows. Let’s read them one by one.

Fix 1: Restore Windows 10 to Previous Point

Windows 10 stop code critical process died error may be occurring frequently on your system. You can prepare a system restore point. Then you can restore your computer to that restore point. You can open the Windows Recovery Environment for this purpose. In Advanced Options, you will find the option of System Restore.

Fix 2: Restart Windows 10 System in Safe Mode

Here is a Windows critical process died fix that will show you to restart your system in Safe Mode. To run the Safe Mode, you can press the Shift and F8 keys after restarting your Windows 10 computer. You can then choose the Advanced Boot Options and further select the Safe Mode for restarting your system.

  • Restart your computer.
  • Tap this combination of keys in one go.

“Shift” key + “F8” key

Note: These keys need to be pressed before Windows 10 loads. Then the recovery mode will begin. 

  • Click on “Advanced Boot Options”. 
  • “Safe Mode” should be chosen as the boot mode.

Note: In case you have an installation disc, you can use that too for entering the Safe Mode. Or you can restart your system multiple times for booting to WinRE. Now, choose “Troubleshoot”, click on “Advanced”, select “Startup Settings”, then hit “Restart”. On your screen, you will see a key for Safe Mode. Press it.

5. After restarting your system in the “Safe Mode”, please check that the error has been settled. 

Fix 3: Fix Corrupted Files via System File Checker on Windows 10

Corrupted files on Windows 10 can be a source of the Windows stop code critical_process_died error. You can run the Command Prompt to initiate the SFC command. It will scan your system for corrupted files and repair them too. 

In case this does not seem clear, you can go through these steps.

  • In “Start” you will find “Search” at the bottom. Use it to find and open “Command Prompt”.
  • Ensure “Command Prompt” is being run as the administrator.
  • Write the following in “Command Prompt”, followed by hitting “Enter”.

“sfc/scannow”

critical process died windows 8 fix command prompt

Note: Your system may take a moment to scan. After that, if you see the message “Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity violations”, then there was no corrupted file present. On the other hand, if you see “Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files and successfully repaired them. Details are included in the CBS.Log windir\Logs\CBS\CBS.log”, then the corrupted files will have been fixed.

Fix 4: Resolve Corrupted System Image on Windows 10

If your PC’s system image has become corrupted, you can use the DISM command to repair it. This command can be used by opening the Command Prompt. Simply, input the command in it and the image will be repaired. 

  • Go to “Command Prompt” from the “Start Menu”.
  • Run the following commands using “Command Prompt” one by one.

“Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth”

“Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth”

“Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth”

critical process died windows 8 fix command prompt

These commands will help in repairing the corrupted system image on Windows 10, thus, troubleshooting the critical_process_died Windows 10 problem.

Fix 5: Upgrade Windows 10 Drivers as Required

When you see this error code on your system, you can check whether a faulty driver is the cause of it. When the faulty driver has been identified, you can get the upgrades for it. 

To check for a faulty driver, go to the Device Manager. Check the drivers in the manager. You will see a yellow mark in front of a faulty driver. That will be all. Afterwards, you can upgrade it.

  • Press the following keys at the same time.

“Windows” key + “X” key

  • The “Device Manager” will be available on your screen. Check every driver one after the other. In case a driver appears with an exclamation mark in yellow, it needs an upgrade. 
  • Download the drivers as required. 

Download and install the upgrades for the drivers. Then use your computer. Check whether the error Windows critical process died got settled.

Fix 6: Remove Latest Software from Windows 10

If you have installed software recently, then certain viruses may also have been installed along with it. These viruses could be causing the message “critical process died Windows 10 cannot boot”. You can go for uninstalling it as an ideal fix.

Resolving Windows 10 Installation Critical Process Died BSOD Error

For the BSOD critical process died Win 10 problem, we have outlined 3 solutions. These solutions will show you the methods for running the Windows troubleshooting tool, doing a clean boot, as well as running PowerShell on your Windows 10 computer.

Fix 1: Use Troubleshooting Tool on Windows 10

Windows Troubleshooter is a tool in your system. You can find this tool in the Settings of Windows 10. In the Update & Security section, you will see Troubleshoot. You can start the tool to scan and know the cause of the error. Then you can fix it with the tool itself. The critical process died BSOD problem should get resolved.

  • Visit “Start”.
  • Tap the “Settings”.
  • Select “Update & Security”.
  • Choose “Troubleshoot”.
  • Roll the mouse to visit the “Recommended Troubleshooting” section.
  • Locate “Get up and Running”. Then locate “Find and Fix Other Problems”. Choose either of them to start the tool. 
  • Click on “Hardware and Devices Troubleshooter” in case you want to check the hardware.
  • Press “Next” in “Diagnostics Troubleshooting Wizard”.

Note: For the “Hardware and Devices Troubleshooter”, you can also open “Run”. Then write “msdt.exe -id DeviceDiagnostic” in it. Press “Ok”. The tool will start.

The issues will be found and listed on your screen. Provide your confirmation to allow Windows to fix the problem.

Fix 2: Try Clean Boot on Windows 10

A clean boot is one of the best workarounds for BSOD critical process died issue. You need to open the System Configuration window for doing a clean boot. This window can be accessed by launching a command using Run. To know the command and further steps, you can read below. 

  • Press the “Windows” and “R” keys simultaneously.
  • Input the following in “Run”. “msconfig”
  • In “System Configuration”, opt for “Selective Startup”.
  • Next, select “Load System”.
  • Select “Hide All Microsoft Services”.
  • Press the button named “Disable All”.

Henceforth, this error will stop appearing on your computer. 

Fix 3: Run PowerShell to Identify Corrupt Files on Windows 10

Among the top causes of the BSOD critical process died Win 10 error lies the corrupt system files. By running PowerShell, you can identify these files on your computer. Then you can fix these files with Powershell itself. 

For using PowerShell, you can open it from the Start Menu first. Then you can run it as the administrator and enter a command in it. The command will perform its function, identify the files, and fix them. 

  • In the “Start Menu”, find “Windows PowerShell (Admin)”. Run it.
  • In “PowerShell”, write “sfc/scannow”.
  • Press “Enter” on your keyboard. 

Note: The command will fix the problems.

  • Then check the hard drive by using the “chkdsk/r” command.
  • Then tap “Enter”.
  • To confirm this step, press “Y”.
  • Then reboot your computer for running the “chkdsk” command. Your system will be scanned and made error-free.

Resolving Windows 10 Critical Process Died on Startup

Are you seeing Windows stop code critical process died on startup? If you are, then disabling the startup processes and services should be a great suggestion. Get all the steps for disabling them below.

Fix 1: Disable Startup Processes on Windows 10

“I see the error of the Windows critical process died on startup. In which way can I fix the error?” For you, it will be suggested to disable the startup process on your Windows 10 system. 

By opening “Run”, you can initiate this fix. Then you can launch system Configuration via Run. It will give you the option of Diagnostic Startup. Using it, you can disable the startup processes. 

  • Tap “Windows” key along with “R” key,
  • Enter “msconfig” in “Run”.
  • Click on “Ok”.
  • Go to the “General” tab in “System Configuration”.
  • Choose “Diagnostic Startup”.
  • Any drivers or processes which are not necessary will be disabled.
  • To confirm, click on “Ok”.
  • Restart your Windows 10 PC.
  • Your computer will reboot. Then repeat step 1.
  • Type “services.msc” in “Run”.
  • Right-click and then tap “Start” for every service that has been disabled. This has to be done till all such services get restarted.
  • Now, when a system process begins and you see this error, resolve that service.

In Brief

Critical_process_died error on Windows can be seen as a consequence of some reasons. Here, we discussed these reasons in brief. For different versions of Windows, we looked into the solutions for this error. 

Let us help you with other Windows 10 errors too. If your mouse cursor disappeared on Windows 10, then you can check its solutions right here. To find out how to clear printer queue on Windows 10, this blog will be useful.

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